Editorial: Magaha's tarnished legacy

Magaha USE THIS PHOTO Ernie Lee Magaha

That's hardly the legacy Ernie Lee Magaha wants as he leaves office Tuesday after 55 years as Escambia County's clerk of the Circuit Court. He was voted out of office in an August primary.

However, that's the legacy he brought upon himself, thanks to his scheme to give raises and other perks to dozens of employees in his office. The details were published Thursday by Nate Monroe, our government reporter. The raises come at a time when other county employees are denied pay increases because of a tight budget. Magaha's move sends a message to other county employees that some workers are more valuable. That is hardly the work of someone we've entrusted with part of the county treasury.

We're told the move was done without informing the county commissioners or Clerk-elect Pam Childers, who soundly defeated Magaha in the Republican primary by getting nearly 69 percent of the vote.

What's troubling about this 11th-hour plan is that, for decades, Magaha prided himself on his stewardship of the public's money. He routinely greets potential jurors with that pitch as they arrive for jury duty. He extolled that virtue during his meeting with our Editorial Board last summer.

As late as last week, he said he puts the taxpayers first: "If it's not in the best interest of the taxpayers, we;re not going to do it."

While his office was free of scandal for decades, this final chapter clearly showed his true colors: He would rather spend the public's money on loyal employees than make sure it is spent with taxpayers in mind.

It was almost unbelievable to hear one supporter justify the raises by saying the money was in Magaha's budget.

That's government for you: "We've got the money so let's spend it."

Here is a novel idea: How about returning any unspent money to the county? Constitutional officers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties do that on a regular basis. That is the action of true stewards of the public's money.

With tight budgets, public employees and elected officials have to understand there is no "extra money." Anything not spent should be returned. The taxpayers have to get by with less; their government should do the same.

Equally disturbing is Childers' revelation that Magaha's not being helpful with her transition into office. He is forcing her to file public-records requests to get information on personnel and the budget. Someone who claims to be a public servant would not act so unprofessionally.

When challenged by Childers in the Republican primary last summer, Magaha was clearly agitated someone dared run against him. It became apparent he had been in office too long. Once he was defeated, he again showed his true colors by being petulant to his successor and enriching his staff, courtesy of the taxpayers.

This episode has us wondering if there is too much time between Election Day and when a new term of office begins. That only allows for shenanigans when a lame duck is allowed to serve for several weeks. Commissioners and school board members take office in November while others wait until January.

At the same time, we hope Commissioner Gene Valentino keeps his word that he plans to find a way to have the constitutional officers get approval from commissioners before handing out money to their employees.